The Absolute Sound Podcast

Eminent Technology LFT-8c: Building a Great $15k System

Eminent Technology has built planar magnetic speakers for several decades. Their designer, Bruce Thigpen, is an original thinker and this is reflected in the design of the speakers. Having heard prior versions I guessed that the latest version LFT-8c might be interesting. And, as it happens, the $5600 per pair price tag falls nicely into my assignment to put together an attractive $15,000 system. I chose the NAD M23 v2 power amp, with new Purifi modules, and the Wattson Madison streaming DAC preamp to go with the LFT-8c. The Wattson and the NAD are each priced at $5000, so my total system fits within the +-10% rule we’ve set for this project. Total price is therefore $15,600. Let’s see what the Eminent Technology speakers contribute. This video is sponsored by: https://shunyata.com/Linkwitz Review: https://youtu.be/7vF2r9PQ28o?si=wyN1izwHTTyvijmQA3T Review: https://youtu.be/xgOsME15Atk?si=w8uI4Da1ORvhhgcH00:00 Eminent Technology LFT-8c02:00 Overview06:36 Sound Quality19:34 Comparisons20:58 SummaryWhat Is The Absolute Sound? The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube, and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles.Intro/Outro Music: Backed Vibes Clean - Rollin at 5 by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/#hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound Copyright 2025, Nextscreen LLC, all rights reserved

Master Artist Fresco Loudspeaker Review

In this video, Adrian reviews loudspeakers from Master Artist, a company founded by two friends from Memphis, Tennessee. Join him as he explores their unique sound quality and craftsmanship.00:00 Master Artist Speakers01:15 Overview03:45 Craftsmanship & Design08:20 Sound Quality12:00 Founders' Journey15:30 SummaryWhat Is The Absolute Sound? The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube, and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles.Intro/Outro Music: Backed Vibes Clean - Rollin at 5 by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/#hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound Copyright 2025, Nextscreen LLC, all rights reserved

T+A Elektroakustik DAC 200 Review

In an era where digital-to-analog converters are increasingly defined by computational arms races and hyper-analytical micro-detail, the German engineers at T+A elektroakustik have built something that fundamentally challenges modern digital dogma. They have engineered the DAC 200 to allows the listener to dictate exactly how much mathematical intervention is applied to their music. It can act as a highly sophisticated digital reconstruction engine for compromised signals, or it can step out of the way entirely and act as a perfectly open window. So, settle in while I share my observations on the T+A DAC 200. This video is sponsored by: https://estelon.com/00:00 T+A Elektroakustik DAC/Preamp 20001:53 Overview07:25 Double Differential Quadruple Converter10:39 Bézier Polynomial Filtering14:16 Sound Quality19:00 SummaryWhat Is The Absolute Sound? The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube, and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles.Intro/Outro Music: Backed Vibes Clean - Rollin at 5 by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/#hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound Copyright 2025, Nextscreen LLC, all rights reserved

Esoteric’s Grandioso Full System Review

This review will be quite a bit different. Here I’m reviewing a system of components from Esoteric. I’m covering the entire electronics chain from source to power amplification, all from Esoteric’s top Grandioso line. The idea is that there may be system synergies from this approach and the only way to get a feel for that is to listen to the system rather than individual components. Let’s take a look at this idea and at the Grandioso system. This video is sponsored by: https://www.hifiman.com/products/detail/29500:00 Esoteric's Grandioso System01:19 Components vs System04:48 Specs & Features08:16 Sound Quality12:04 Insights from SACD15:46 Comparisons17:12 Summary

Buchardt Audio P300 Compact Speaker Review

John Quain returns with his review of the Buchardt Audio P300 which are compact but not necessarily bookshelf, with their warm sonic profile, a passive oblong radiator for bass response, and much much mre from the Danish manufacturer. What does John ultimately conclude? Tune in to find out!This video is sponsored by: https://fidelityimports.com/collections/matrix-audio00:00 Bucharrdt P30001:25 Overview01:30 Specs & Design04:16 Sound Quality10:31 Summary

Technics SL-1500CS turntable

Absolute Sound viewers should be no stranger to turntables from Technics, which have dominated the market space since their reintroduction to listeners 10 years ago. We’ve reviewed many of their offerings on this channel, including the recently introduced SL-1300G which used the company’s next generation Delta-Sigma drive technology. Well, now Technics have carried this evolution down to their more entry level designs and updated the SL-1500C to the SL-1500CS. Can this reasonably-priced direct-drive table throw down with its more lauded older siblings? Stay tuned to find out. This video is sponsored by: https://gttaudio.com/Micheal's 1300G Review: https://youtu.be/r1-jxRebLRU?si=g0EAyTIU3To_MC9b00:00 SL-1500CS 01:28 Overview02:07 Specs & Design04:53 Set Up 05:53 Sound Quality 11:41 Phono Preamp 14:28 SummaryNewsletter: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletter Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesound Substack: https://www.theabsolutesound.substack.com What Is The Absolute Sound? The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube, and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles.Intro/Outro Music: Backed Vibes Clean - Rollin at 5 by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/#hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound

KEF Coda Wireless Speakers Review

The KEF Coda W promises audiophile-grade sound from a speaker designed to be subtle, chic, but engaging — tailored for an office, dorm room, or small living space, but does it actually deliver? John Quain reports...00:00 KEF Coda W01:02 Overview02:04 Specs & Design04:53 Sound Quality 09:45 App & Remote Control10:23 SummaryThis video is sponsored by: https://www.hifiman.com/products/detail/295

DeJitter it NUC-X Music Server Review

In this video, Robert Taylor dives into the world of music servers, focusing on the DeJitter it NUC-X server, priced at $8,000. He breaks down its technical enhancements, including a custom power supply and the removal of Bluetooth/Wi-Fi for superior audio performance. Robert also compared it to a standard Intel NUC, showcasing the remarkable improvements in sound clarity and bass definition. Plus, he reviews the DeJitter it Switch-X and discusses how high-quality networking equipment can elevate your audio experience.This video is sponsored by: HiFiMANNewsletter: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletter Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesound Substack: https://www.theabsolutesound.substack.com What Is The Absolute Sound? The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube, and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles.Intro/Outro Music: Backed Vibes Clean - Rollin at 5 by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/#hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound

TM_VantageM_2

00:00 Audio Solutions Vantage M01:33 Specs & Design04:50 Sound Quality14:00 Comparisons15:54 CharacterThis video is sponsored by: https://fidelityimports.com/collections/matrix-audioAlexx V Review: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/wilson-audio-alexx-v-loudspeaker/

Quadraspire SV3T Hi-Fi Equipment Rack

When putting together a hi fi system, we tend to obsess over the active components. We spend hours agonizing over amplifier topologies or DAC chips, but we often treat the literal foundation of our systems as an afterthought. So settle in while I share some thoughts on a piece of equipment that quietly supports this entire endeavor: The Quadraspire SV3T performance Hi-Fi rack. 00:00 Quadraspire Equipment Rack00:56 Overview01:46 Specs & Design03:26 Customizability04:24 Is it for you?This video is sponsored by: https://rel.net/Newsletter: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletter Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesound Substack: https://www.theabsolutesound.substack.com What Is The Absolute Sound? The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube, and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles.#hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound